1987: Will Grimsley

1987 Red Smith Award Winner Will Grimsley was a sports reporter for The Associated Press for more than 40 years.

He began his career at the age of 18 as a sports writer with The Evening Tennessean in Nashville. He was promoted to sports editor and columnist three years later.

In 1943, he was hired by the AP in Memphis. He transferred to New York in 1947.

During his career, Grimsley covered 35 World Series, 25 Kentucky Derbies and 15 Olympics, among many other major sporting events.

He served as the president of the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association in 1985 and ‘86 and was president of the United States Golf Writers Association and United States Tennis Writers Association.